Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEEFR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEEFR’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and double flowers with tepals and tepaloids that are bright pink in color with slightly fringed margins.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEEFR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred toas Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEEFR’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freelyflowering Begonia plants with attractive double flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in September, 2011 of a proprietary selection ofBegonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500161, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalisidentified as code number 6500604, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inMaasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlandssince August, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEEFR’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKPBEEFR’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Double flowers with tepals and tepaloids that are bright pink        in color with slightly fringed margins.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have double flowers whereas plants        of the female parent selection have single flowers.    -   2. Flower tepals and tepaloids of plants of the new Begonia are        bright pink in color whereas flower tepals of plants of the        female parent selection are salmon in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Flower tepals and tepaloids of plants of the new Begonia are        bright pink in color whereas flower tepals and tepaloids of        plants of the male parent selection are pale pink in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of theBegonia×hiemalis ‘Berseko’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differfrom plants of ‘Berseko’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are bushier than and not as compact        as plants of ‘Berseko’.    -   2. Tepals and tepaloids of plants of the new Begonia are more        fringed than tepals and tepaloids of plants of ‘Berseko’.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of theBegonia×hiemalis ‘Elektra Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.18,967. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘ElektraPink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are bushier than and not as compact        as plants of ‘Elektra Pink’.    -   2. Tepals and tepaloids of plants of the new Begonia are less        fringed than tepals and tepaloids of plants of ‘Elektra Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEEFR’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of upper and lowersurfaces of typical flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBEEFR’ and at the leftcenter of the photograph is a close-up view of typical flower buds withpedicels.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during thewinter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° to20° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° to 19° C. and light levelsaveraged 6,000 lux. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photographsand the description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBEEFR’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500161, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about            25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to            form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounded plant habit; plant shape roughly flattened globular;            freely basal branching with about six basal branches            developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 29.2 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 7.9 cm. Diameter:            About 9 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40° from the vertical.            Texture: Pubescent. Luster: Glossy. Color, developing: Close            to 144A. Color, fully developed: Close to between 144A and            146D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 13 cm. Width: About 10.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Unequal, hastate, slightly to moderately            imbricate. Margin: Bi-serrate. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent along veins. Luster, upper surface: Moderately            glossy. Luster, lower surface: Slightly glossy. Venation            pattern: Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Close to between 147A and N199A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 177A. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Darker than close to N189A; venation, close to 146A            to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 182A            to 182B; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Petioles: Length:            About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 152A; distally, close            to 183A. Color, lower surface: Close to 152A. Stipules:            Quantity per leaf: Two. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About            9 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margins: Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145A and 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double rotate flowers arranged in axillary            compound cymes; freely flowering habit with about three to            four flowers per cyme and about 75 flowers developing per            plant; flowers face upright to outwardly; most flowers are            sterile male flowers and occasionally single female flowers            develop.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 65            days after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            freely and continuously from spring into the autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain            good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior            environment.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 18.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to            2.5 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to flabellate; flattened.            Color: Close to between 53D and 181C; towards the base,            close to 174A.        -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 6.7 cm. Depth: About 2.9 cm.            Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Two, opposite.            Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Shape: Broadly            obovate to nearly orbicular. Apex: Obtuse to rounded.            Margin: Irregularly finely serrate. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Luster, upper            surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Moderately glossy.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 63C; towards            the base, close to 62D; towards the margins, tinged with            close to 63B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 62A to            62B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 63C; towards the            base, close to 62D; towards the margins, tinged with close            to 63B; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 181C; towards the margins, close to            185A to 185C; color does not fade with development.            Tepaloids: Quantity per flower and arrangement: About 40 in            multiple whorls. Length: About 1.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Width:            About 1.2 cm to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Rounded.            Margin: Dentate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately velvety. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 62A; towards the margins, close to 63B.            Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 62C;            towards the margins, close to 62A; color does not fade with            development.        -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth: About 1.8 cm.            Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six, arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About            2.6 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to nearly orbicular. Apex:            Obtuse to rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Luster, upper            surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Moderately glossy.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 62B; towards            the margins, close to 63B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 181 C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62A;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 181D; color does not fade with            development. Tepaloids: None observed on female flowers.        -   Peduncles, male and female flowers.—Length: About 9.1 cm.            Diameter: About 5.5 mm. Angle: About 45° from lateral branch            axis. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible and bending with            the weight of the flowers. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.            Luster: Moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels, male and female flowers.—Length: About 3.4 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: About 20° to 45° from the            peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible,            bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster: Moderately glossy. Color: Close to 176A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Orbicular to reniform.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately velvety. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A; towards the margins, close to 185A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: All stamens transformed            into tepaloids on male flowers. Gynoecium: Present only on            female flowers. Quantity per flower: Six, fused in pairs.            Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Spiral. Stigma            color: Close to 9A. Style length: About 5.5 mm. Style color:            Close to 145B to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 146C strongly            tinged with close to 178A to 178B. Seeds and fruits: Seed            and fruit development have not been observed on plants of            the new Begonia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEEFR’ asillustrated and described.